Book review for the Chinese Annals of History of Science and Technology

This book sheds light on the obligation imposed on geologists to align their theories with new ideological guidelines and the adoption of the officially approved neo-Lamarckian evolutionary theory, known in the USSR as the Michurin doctrine. Unfortunately, this meeting remained forgotten, and rarely referenced for a long time. It is worth noting that eight prominent scientists who spoke during the session later faced Stalinist repression in the Krasnoyarsk Case of Geologists (1949–1950), where they were accused of incorrect assessment, concealment of mineral deposits, and sabotage during the search for uranium deposits.

The 1948 Moscow meeting of geologists, in contrast to biologists one, was characterized as more representative, scientific, and less politicized. It served as a significant gathering of prominent geologists in the post–war era. The meeting encompassed a comprehensive review of the scientific work conducted at the Institute of Geological Sciences, with participation from representatives of other geological institutes across the USSR.

Various topics and discussions, including all geological sciences except the geology of oil and gas, however, was later addressed separately at the Petroleum Research Geological Prospecting Institute (VNIGRI). Notably, the new political climate in biology had a profound impact especially on paleontology, biostratigraphy, and evolutionary studies within the geology. Criticism was directed towards foreign theories and scientists, as efforts were made to establish the sole ideologically correct direction for each geological science.